Indiana state is famous globally as the “Covered Bridge Capital” because there are 32 covered bridges alone in Historic Parke County, which are discoverable through a road trip. Apart from the Indiana national parks, the state is also famous by the name of “great lakes state” since it shares 40 miles of shoreline with Lake Michigan.
The four national parks in Indiana are renowned as outdoor adventure destinations, namely the Indiana Dunes National Park, President Lincoln’s Boyhood Cabin, George Roger Clark, and the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail. Of the four national parks, Indiana Dunes National Park is a must-see destination.
Indiana Dunes National Park and George Rogers Clark National Historical Park are national parks in the term’s true meaning. And, the other two national parks in Indiana, i.e., Lincoln’s Boyhood National Memorial and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, are the two memorial sites in Indiana, recognized for their routes of historical significance or original trails by the National Historic Trails.
Let’s check more details about each of the national parks in Indiana and see how we can spend our day if we plan a trip there.
The Four Noted Indiana National Parks
1. Indiana Dunes National Park:
Of the four celebrated Indiana national parks, this one is an unmissable destination if you are in the state. The national park shares 15 miles with the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Indiana Dunes National Park is spread over 15,000 acres and has a lot to offer.
Your search for rare species of birds will end here, along with 1,100 native plant species and the fun of flying kites on the sandy beach. You will feel enchanted with every step you take in this national park as this place is among the most biologically rich areas in the nation.
The park offers 50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, sunny prairies, mysterious wetlands, peaceful forests, and meandering rivers for hikers. Shall we now check out basic information about the national park to plan our tour accordingly?
Directions To The Park: You can access Indiana Dunes National Park through Interstate 94, the Indiana Toll Road, U.S. Highway 12 & 20, Indiana State Road 49, and several other local roads. To visit the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, you need to take Indiana State Road 49, between U.SD. Highway 20 and Interstate 94.
Operating Hours Of The National Park: This Indiana national park has general areas that are open throughout the year but have specific hours of operation. The standard working hours of the general areas of the national park are Monday to Sunday from 06:00 am to 11:00 pm.
The entrance to the Indiana Dunes National Park is through the west beach. The hours of operation of this portion of the park is Monday to Saturday from 07:00 am to 09:00 pm.
Weather News: Usually, July is the warmest month in the national park, and January is the coldest month. June month witnesses the heaviest rainfall with 4.66 inches of rain on average.
Entrance Fees To The Park:
West Beach – Standard Entrance Fee $6.00, Senior Pass Entrance Fee $3.00, Access Pass Entrance Fee $3.00, Bus Entrance Fee $30.00.
Dunewood Campground – Standard Camping Fee $25.00, Senior Pass Camping Fee $12.50, Access Pass Camping Fee $12.50. This campground is 1.5 miles from the beach and boasts 67 campsites made for both RVs and tent camping.
One-half of the site is open for reserve, and the other half is given on a first-come-first-served basis. You will find showers and restrooms at the campground but no water or electric hookups.
Indiana Dunes Visitors Centers:
Dorothy Buell Visitor Center – This Indiana national park visitor center is open on all days except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The operation hours are 09:00 am to 04:00 pm Central Time (Due to covid-19). At Dorothy Buell, you will view lobby displays, read brochures about Porter County, Dunes State Park, Indiana, and Indiana Dunes National Park. You can also shop in the Eastern National Bookstore and enjoy watching educational displays and two short orientation videos.
Paul H. Douglas Center For Environmental Education – This visitor center is open from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm Central Time during Summers and from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm during Winters. This center is your gateway to the magnificent Paul H. Douglas Trail via Miller Woods. You will find a natural environment all through the center through its hands-on educational exhibits, animals, lectures, Nature Play Zone, ranger-guided hikes, and crafts.
Popular Activities To Do At The National Park:
Hiking.
Picnic at the beach.
Birding.
Swimming.
Fishing and Paddling.
Geocaching.
Horse Riding on the equestrian trails.
Camping (Between April 1st to October 31st).
Biking.
Snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
Shuttle Bus Services: During the summer period, on weekends, you can take the services of free shuttle buses from the Dunewood Campground to the beaches. You can stop at sites like the Miller Train Station, Marquette Park, Lake Street Beach, and The Douglas Center.
Pet Friendliness: Indiana Dunes National Park is completely dog-friendly. You can take your pet to almost all trails and other parts of the park, besides a few exceptions. For example, you cannot take your pets on Glenwood Dunes Trail’s equestrian part, in the lifeguard area of the West Beach, and the Pinhook Bog Trail.
You can enjoy a free public wi-fi facility at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center.
2. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park:
Located on Southwest Indiana and beside the Wabash River, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is one of the small Indiana national parks, which has a few monuments, a picnic spot, statutes, and a visitor center as its main center of attraction. The national park is about an hour tour in total.
Why Was George Rogers Clark National Historical Park Built?
George Rogers Clark National Park was built in the 1920s in memory of an American Colonel named George Rogers Clark, who captured Fort Sackville in 1779 and his army with help from French residents of the Illinois country. The capture of the fort guaranteed the United States a claim to the frontier, which is approximately an area as big as the original 13 states.
The National Park is a memorial built to commemorate Clark’s success for his unmatchable success for the revolutionary war’s 150th anniversary. When you visit this national park’s visitor center, you will discover the fort’s history, how it was built, and how it felt living in the Pullman District. In addition, at the national park, you will be shown a 30-minute short film on the life of George Rogers Clark.
Things To Do At The George Rogers Clark National Park
A short walk around the nearby town of Vincennes will offer you the following things to do at this small Indiana national park:
Dine at restaurants.
Camping at Campgrounds.
The Old Cathedral.
State Historic Sites.
Shops to shop.
Antique Stores.
There are particularly no campgrounds at George Rogers Clark National Park. But, visitors can find campgrounds for RV and tent camping at the Ouabache Trails Park, located in Vincennes.
Space For Pets: Your leashed pets can accompany you on the walkways around the Memorial and the visitor center, but their entry inside any buildings is strictly prohibited.
Operating Hours: The park is open for visitors on all seven days of the week. At the same time, it is closed on most of the federal holidays except Independence Day, Labor Day, and Memorial Day.
Timings for the Park District: George Rogers Clark Memorial is from 09:00 am to 04:45 pm on demand.
Weather At The Park: The weather inside the national park is very much typical for the Midwest. Summer months can be hot and humid, and winters quite cool.
Entrance Fees To The Park: For a George Rogers Clark National Park tour, there is no entrance fee charged.
The Visitors Centers To Visit: This Indiana national park has one visitor center with the same name as the national park. This center has a small exhibit area. You will be shown a short 30-minute introductory movie titled “Long Knives,” which tells about the backstory of George Rogers Clark and his military campaign. No drinks or food are allowed at the visitor center or Memorial. Services offered here are charging stations, restrooms, bookstores, and drinking fountains.
3. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial:
In the southern part of Indiana and Lincoln City, you will find the third Indiana national park, named Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. This is where former President Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood before becoming the 16th President of the United States of America.
Operating Hours Of The Lincoln Boyhood National Park: All visitors are allowed to tour the national park grounds and visit all the outside areas daily, between sunrise and sunset. Once you arrive at the park, there are plenty of things that you can do, such as two miles of trails, watching the sculptured panels on the outside of the Lincoln Memorial Visitor Center, visiting the Cabin-Site Memorial, the Pioneer Cemetery, and the Living Historical Farm. Unfortunately, the park is closed on almost all federal holidays.
Weather At The Park: The climate in Southern Indiana is moderate, with a touch of warmness and moistness. The summers are warmer and winters cooler. It rains the most during Spring.
Visitor Center At The Park: The Lincoln Boyhood park has a Memorial Visitor Center built in 1943 with two memorial halls and a connecting cloister. In the Memorial Court, you will find the works of E.H. Daniels and five sculptured panels that mark significant periods in Abraham Lincoln’s life. Taking a tour of the whole Memorial will take up to 30 to 60 minutes.
There is also an orientation film shown at the visitor center every half an hour from 08:00 am to half an hour before the day’s closing. The Museum artifacts and exhibits speak about Abraham Lincoln’s life.
This national park is all about Lincoln’s family, boyhood, and frontier life in this Indiana national park area. During summers, the visitor center is open on all seven days from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm except for the federal holidays. And, at the time of the Fall season, the timings are 07:00 am to 03:00 pm.
Place For Pets At The Park: Visitors are permitted to bring in their pets inside the park, but with certain restrictions. The pets must be restrained at all times on a leash, which should not be longer than six feet in length.
The pets are only allowed on the 2 miles of hiking trails and roads in the park and barred from entering public buildings.
Things You Can Do At The Park: It will take at least two hours to complete a tour of the whole park. The indoor activities at the park include:
Watching the Park Film at the Memorial, titled Forging Greatness and Lincoln in Indiana, which is 14 minutes in length.
Paying a visit at the Lincoln in Indiana Museum, which would take around 15 to 30 minutes.
The outdoor activities include:
Hike the Trail of Twelve Stones, a type of front-country hiking of 20 minutes.
Hike the Boyhood Trail, which is another front-country hike of 10 to 15 minutes.
Visiting the Lincoln Living Historical Fa, you’ll find a re-created homestead with outbuildings, log cabins, field crops, gardens, livestock, and split rail fences.
For kids of 05 years and above, there is a Junior Lincoln Boyhood Ranger Program.
Lincoln Spring, which is an obscure waterway.
The entry to the Lincoln Boyhood Indiana national park is free.
4. Lewis And Clark National Historic Trail:
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is nearly 4,900 miles long, starting from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Columbia River mouth, which is near the present-day Astoria, Oregon. This Indiana national park follows the historic incoming and outgoing routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition along with the preceding section initiating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Wood River in Illinois.
This Trail connects 16 U.S. States and many Tribal lands. Today, visitors are allowed to explore the whole Trail using varied transportation methods and interpretive means, following the approximate route of the Corps of Discovery, i.e. Lewis and Clark Expedition Members.
Places To Visit In Lewis And Clark National Park:
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Centers and Museums: At Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Museums and Visitor Centers and Cultural Centers, visitors can learn more about the expedition and experience blissful and diversified landscapes and communities on the Trail.
Directions To The National Park: You will find the Lewis and Clark Indiana national park visitor center inside the DOI, National Park Service.
Weather At The Park: The summers are sweltering, so you must drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen when stepping out for a tour of the Trail. The winters are icy, with ice settling on trails and sidewalks. Since this Trail covers 16 U.S. states, you must watch the weather prediction of the state you are planning to visit.
The Final Thoughts
We hope that the above comprehensive guide on Indiana national parks is a one-stop solution and a valuable guide for you if you plan a trip to any of the four national parks and trails. From serenity to beautiful natural landscapes, from magnificent and ancient monuments to rare species of animals, you will find every part of each of the four national parks surprising.
Mashum Mollah is the feature writer of Search Engine Magazine and an SEO Analyst at Real Wealth Business. Over the last 3 years, He has successfully developed and implemented online marketing, SEO, and conversion campaigns for 50+ businesses of all sizes. He is the co-founder of Social Media Magazine.
2 responses to “A Guide To Indiana National Parks – Latest Guide”
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
Any visitor's worst nightmare is losing their phone, wallet, or, worse their passport in an unfamiliar location. You have no prior knowledge of the country, its inhabitants, or its language. And if you lose your essentials while traveling overseas, what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation becomes a full disaster.
Losing your passport is the worst thing that can happen to you. Because it raises the most fundamental question: how will you get back home?
But have no fear: every problem has a solution, and this one is no exception. So, if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, try not to freak out. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly. And once you've searched every nook and cranny and are certain it's gone, there are five basic things you should do if your Indian passport is misplaced while traveling abroad.
File An Official Report For Lost Or Missing Passport
To begin, locate the nearest police station and register a missing or lost passport complaint. Any travel insurance policy must include this step. It's also crucial information that you should bring to the attention of the embassy or consulate.
However, keep in mind that this may not always expedite the procedure of apply for a new passport. Nonetheless, it is critical. A police report can also help you with embassy formalities like obtaining an emergency certificate or a new passport.
Visit The Nearest Indian Embassy Or Consulate
Next, go to the Indian embassy or consulate in your area. They will assist you in obtaining a new passport. Make an appointment ahead of time by calling ahead. It's also crucial to notify the embassy if your passport has been stolen. Find the one closest to you and acquire their phone number and email address so you may communicate with them.
Keep All The Supporting Documents Ready
As your appointment with the Indian embassy approaches, it would be preferable if you prepared the necessary documentation to replace your passport. When you visit the embassy, you will be required to submit some documents in addition to the application. It will take around a week to replace a new passport. For this, you must submit the following documents:
Personal application stating the need for the new passport's prompt issuance
Photocopy of lost passport (front and back pages), passport lost or stolen police report
Passport size photos (4 to 6)
Photocopy of air tickets and visa
You also don't have to wait for a new replacement passport if you need to return to India right away. Simply fill out an application for an Emergency Certificate. This is a travel document that can only be used once. It allows an Indian citizen who has misplaced their passport to return to India without difficulty. You'll need to get your visas stamped anew for both of these alternatives. The following documents are required to apply for an Emergency Certificate:
Application by giving an EAP-2 form
Passport size photos (4 to 6)
Photocopies of passport (Front and back pages)
Police report for a lost or stolen passport.
Appy For Re-Issue Of Your Visa
If you lose your passport while traveling abroad, whatever visas you may have will be lost as well. As a result, you can reclaim your visa by going to the nation's embassy that issued it in the first place. For this process, you'll need a copy of your old visa as well as the police report that was submitted. It would also be beneficial if you had your new replacement passport.
Reschedule Your Flight & Claim Travel Insurance On Return
If your passport is lost or stolen, you will be unable to travel outside of the foreign nation until you acquire a new passport or an Emergency Certificate. As a result, you may need to reschedule your flight if necessary. Call your airline and let them know what's going on. The sooner you notify the airlines, the more likely you will avoid wasting your money on rescheduling your journey.
Before going abroad, it's always a good idea to get travel insurance. If you've done all of this, make a claim for your travel insurance when you get back to India. Make a claim for a missing passport to redeem your insurance. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible, and preserve the police report and any other documents connected to the expenditures paid as a result of the loss of your passport on hand.
So, if you lose your passport or it is stolen while on vacation overseas, these are the five things you must do. Above all, remember to be cheerful, take a deep breath, and avoid panicking. If you keep your cool, you'll be able to get through this scenario faster and with less stress.
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Bali is one of the most popular tourists’ destinations on the planet. The island is known for its highly developed art forms. These include traditional and modern dance, metalworking, music, and painting. These features explain why we have an ever-increasing number of people who visit Bali tour every year.
We can only expect the number to increase over time. Therefore, you are not the only one who is planning to visit this destination for the first time. There are so many people from all the corners who the world who are yearning to get this opportunity.
First, it is good to understand what the region has to offer before you start to plan your travel. Bali is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in Asia. It is home to pristine beaches, dense volcanic mountains, and majestic coral reefs.
The island with its rich cultural heritage has a lot in store for every traveler. Therefore, you will not be wasting your valuable time and money whenever you plan a visit to this place. You will get the most memorable moments in life as long as you plan your visit well and get to the right places.
With numerous places to explore and several activities to try, travelers often get overwhelmed with the choices. Most of them end up committing mistakes during their trip and you should not be one of them.
To help avoid such mistakes, the post lists some helpful tips you must follow when on a Bali tour. Take a look and you will make good use of your time and resources.
Recommended reading: Five Tips for First Time Traveler to India
1. Decide Where to Stay
Bali offers an interesting mix of lifestyles and experiences. You will not fail to get something that will flow well with your personality. The most important thing is to do your homework well regarding the preferred travel destination.
To get the most out of your trip, you must decide the area of stay according to your preferences. If for instance, you want to party hard, you must stay in Kuta. The reason is that Kita is well known for its vibrant and pulsating nightlife. Most people who come to this place remain with a great story to tell for the rest of their life.
If you have a spiritual bend of mind, Ubud that is home to various temples and spas is the place to stay. This destination will give you the spiritual nourishment that you need all the time. You will also have a lot to learn about religion and other important aspects of spiritualism.
If sophistication and luxury is what you seek, then you need to head straight to Nusa Dua. The region is home to a number of luxury hotels and resorts. You can be sure of heading to some of the most luxurious restaurants in Bali.
What we are saying is that Bale has everything for everyone. You will not lack a perfect match for yourself irrespective of your personality. The secret is to do your homework well so that some of the goodies of the city don’t pass you by.
2. Carry Your International Driver’s License (IDL)
Public transport is almost non-existent in most parts of Bali. Therefore, you should prepare to drive yourself as you have a tour of this region. Therefore, you should carry your international driver’s license especially if you feel that hiring a taxi will be expensive.
There a few areas of southern Bali that have a few taxi services. The best way to move around is hiring a self-drive car. You can also hire a chauffeur driven vehicle. The only thing is to make sure that you are choosing an option that is most comfortable for you.
If you wish to drive yourself, you’d need to carry your International Driver’s License. Before you get behind the wheel, visit the local police station to get your IDL endorsed to drive around legally. You don’t want to fall into the wrong hands while driving around Bali.
3. Learn About the Local Traditions
Balinese are very friendly people and welcome tourists with open arms. You can be sure that you will receive the best from these people. Therefore, you can interact with them well as long as you learn their way of life.
That said, the locals are very particular about their traditional customs and beliefs. To avoid offending them you must;
Not offer anything to anyone from your left hand, as it is considered impure.
Avoid pointing to call out someone as it is considered to be a rude and offensive gesture.
Do not step intentionally on the canang sari, an offering to the Creator.
Do not honk or shout at people, especially when stuck in a religious procession.
Do not walk in front of a praying Balinese or use cameras with flash in a temple.
Keeping all these things in mind will make sure that you have a smooth stay as you tour Bali. These are very few things that will not be hard to comply with. Learn to keep them and anyone whom you come across will learn to appreciate you.
4. Learn About how to Avoid the Bali Belly
Ask Bali travelers the worst experience they had in Bali and many would answer Bali Belly or an upset stomach. Bali Belly is often caused due to drinking tap water as it may contain harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. However, this is something that you can easily avoid by watching your eating habits.
To avoid this problem, always drink bottled water and use it to brush your teeth. Go slow on the exotic food as the body takes time to adjust from your regular diet to a new one. It is all about taking care of everything that gets into your mouth.
Use a hand sanitizer to clean hands before meals. Carry activated charcoal tablets and anti-diarrhea medications. Drink raspberry juice at regular intervals as it helps keep you hydrated.
The secret is maintaining high levels of hygiene. There is no way that you will get Bali Belly as long as you mind your hygiene. Therefore, don’t do anything that will compromise your health even if it is the order of the day in your home country.
Bonus Tip: Are you Ready to Have an Experience of a Lifetime?
With its majestic temples, dense rainforests, and alluring beaches, Bali, undoubtedly is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations on Earth. You will rarely come across another destination that will beat Bali in your adventure life.
To get the most out of your traveling experience or honeymoon experience in Bali, follow the tips mentioned in this post. You should also carry hand sanitizers, and toilet paper as many local restrooms do not supply these essentials.
Last, but not the least, renew your travel insurance before booking a Bali tour package from Ahmedabad or any other city. These tips will make sure that you are getting the best experience from your trip in Bali.
Conclusion
With all these tips, you are destined to get the most from your trip to Bali. You will discover that it is one of the best places to tour on your next visit. There is so much that you can do when touring the area. Therefore, a visit to Bali can be overwhelming if you don’t know the best starting point.
Embarking on travel excursions with your partner will enable the two of you to enjoy an exciting array of new experiences as a couple. In addition to providing ample opportunities for fun, couples’ getaways can help bring you and your special someone closer together.
Of course, this isn’t to say that every trip of this type goes off without a hitch. In fact, many couples have a tendency to argue profusely while on vacation. If this sounds familiar, but the following pointers into practice the next time you and your partner hit the road.
Decide on a Mutually Agreeable Destination
One way to stop disagreements in their tracks is deciding on a mutually agreeable travel destination. If only one of you is happy with the destination, this is liable to be a continuous source of passive-aggressiveness throughout the entire trip. As such, it pays for both parties to put genuine thought into the destination, especially if the trip is purely for pleasure.
With this in mind, you and your partner should sit down and read up on prospective destinations before coming to a decision. While it’s entirely possible that one of you will be happier with the destination than the other, this approach ensures that neither party feels strong-armed into visiting a place for which they feel little to no enthusiasm.
Plot Out a Mutually Agreeable Itinerary
In addition to selecting a mutually agreeable destination, you and your partner should plot out an itinerary filled with activities that you both enjoy. Even if the two of you are equally pleased with where you’re going, it’s important that the activities you engage in are also of mutual interest. When drawing up your itinerary, take care to use helpful resources, like a good North Fork travel guide, as these can help you get a true lay of the land.
Be Open to Spending Time Apart
Even if the aim of your trip is to spend time together, this doesn’t mean the two of you need to be bonded at the hip. Giving each other sufficient space is a tenet of any healthy relationship, and you shouldn’t feel compelled to spend every microsecond of your trip together.
For example, if one of you wants to see a certain sight or engage in a specific activity in which the other has no interest, it’s fine to spend a little bit of time apart. By the time the two of you meet up again, you’ll be able to appreciate each other’s company all the more.
Don’t Get Hung up on Perfection
Far too many couples feel compelled to make every travel excursion perfect. In addition to wanting to make the most of this special time, a desire for perfection also stems from wanting to project happiness to various friends, family members, and acquaintances.
If you’re spending the entire vacation posting photos on social media, you’re not only depriving yourself of quality time with your sweetie, you’re playing into the idea that the projection of happiness is every bit as good as the actual thing.
Striving for absolute perfection is unlikely to pay off in any facet of life, and couples’ trips are no exception. No matter how meticulously you plan a trip out, you’re bound to hit the occasional snag. You’ll have no control over many of the things that go wrong during travel excursions, and the sooner you and your partner accept this, the sooner you can abandon your pursuit of perfection.
This isn’t to say that you can’t take plenty of pics and share your vacation memories on the web, but at the end of the day, this trip is about your partnership, not your social media followers.
Vacationing with your special someone can be a great way to bring the two of you closer together. However, while there’s a lot to be said for traveling as a couple, this doesn’t mean things can’t go awry when traveling with your partner.
No relationship is perfect, and being outside of your usual surroundings doesn’t make you immune to disagreements. In fact, some couples are more likely to clash during travel excursions than throughout the course of their daily lives. Couples looking to nip vacation-based arguments in the bud would do well to heed the pointers discussed above.
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This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
Awesome! I’ve been searching for a solution to this problem for a while and your post has provided me with a lot of useful information.